Michigan Keg Law Faces Repeal

DUBLIN, IRELAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Kegs with Guinness are stacked as Final Preparations For Arthur's Day during The Guinness 250th Anniversary at Guinness Storehouse on September 23, 2009 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Guinness)

WWJ’s Joe Donovan reports that the law’s defenders insist the good effects that will come will justify all the paperwork headaches.

The bill is among one of the last signed by outgoing Governor Jennifer Granholm. It would require any business that sells beer by the keg to attach tags that show the buyer’s name and address. If an empty keg is found with a missing tag, the buyer forfeits the deposit and risks a fine or even jail time. The retailer could also be fined.

The idea is, when police bust a beer-blast full of underage drinkers, they can easily trace the illegal suds.

However, the Liquor Control Commission has not printed the tags yet, so the law cannot be enforced.

Party store owners who support the repeal said their current method of record keeping is good enough and the tags are unnecessary.